wrestlers in Japan, comprising the makuuchi and juryo divisions, make up the sumo elite. A wrestler near the
top of this elite pyramid may earn millions and is treated like royalty. Any wrestler in the top forty earns at
least $170,000 a year. The seventieth-ranked wrestler in Japan, meanwhile, earns only $15,000 a year. Life isn't
very sweet outside the elite. Low-ranked wrestlers must tend to their superiors, preparing their meals and
cleaning their quarters and even soaping up their hardest-to-reach body parts. So ranking is everything.
A wrestler ranking is based on his performance in the elite tournaments that are held six times a year. Each
wrestler has fifteen bouts per tournament, one per day over fifteen consecutive days. If he finishes the
tournament with a winning record (eight victories or better), his ranking will rise. If he has a losing record, his
ranking falls. If it falls far enough, he is booted from the elite rank entirely. The eighth victory in any
tournament is therefore critical, the difference between promotion and demotion; it is roughly four times as
valuable in the rankings as the typical victory.
Based on the excerpt, which statement provides the best example of incentive for a sumo wrestler to cheat?
O Sumo wrestling is revered in a way that American sports can never be.
A sumo wrestler near the top of the elite pyramid may earn millions of dollars.
O Sumo wrestling has fifteen bouts in each elite tournament.
A sumo wrestler must participate in elite tournaments six times a year.